Firefighters watch as a helicopter drops water on small hot spots near the summit of Mount Diablo. The Morgan Fire on the mountain's eastern slope is coming under control.

Firefighters watch as a helicopter drops water on small hot spots near the summit of Mount Diablo. The Morgan Fire on the mountain's eastern slope is coming under control.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A Cal Fire engine navigates a dirt road on the burned hillside of Mount Diablo close to the summit.

A Cal Fire engine navigates a dirt road on the burned hillside of Mount Diablo close to the summit.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A fox runs across the scorched Mount Diable State Park landscape.

A fox runs across the scorched Mount Diable State Park landscape.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A truck off Oak Hill Lane near Clayton was swept over by the fast-moving blaze, but firefighters are gaining the upper hand.

A truck off Oak Hill Lane near Clayton was swept over by the fast-moving blaze, but firefighters are gaining the upper hand.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Scared hillside left behind, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, as the fire swept over the north eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo State Park, near Clayton, Calif. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the blaze as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

Scared hillside left behind, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, as the fire swept over the north eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo State Park, near Clayton, Calif. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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The Intermountain Fire Crew, an inmate team from Lassen and Modoc County, patrol for hot spots in Mt. Diablo State Park, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, near Clayton, Calif., as firefighters near full containment of the Morgan Fire burning on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo State Park. less

The Intermountain Fire Crew, an inmate team from Lassen and Modoc County, patrol for hot spots in Mt. Diablo State Park, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, near Clayton, Calif., as firefighters near full containment of ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Diablo Bowman member, Kent Swindell, near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, looks over the storage trailer that was burned up in the Morgan Fire destroying $35,000 worth of archery equipment. The archery club was founded 1964. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the blaze as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

Diablo Bowman member, Kent Swindell, near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, looks over the storage trailer that was burned up in the Morgan Fire destroying $35,000 worth of archery equipment. The ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Marin County firefighters Jamal Cook, Miguel Palayo, Ryan Meier and Tony Soule, left to right, put out hot spots along a fire road near the north peak of Mount Diablo in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Clayton, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire began on Sunday, Sept. 8, and by Tuesday, more than 3,200 acres had burned and containment was at 45 percent. (AP Photo/The Contra Costa Times, Jane Tyska) less

Marin County firefighters Jamal Cook, Miguel Palayo, Ryan Meier and Tony Soule, left to right, put out hot spots along a fire road near the north peak of Mount Diablo in unincorporated Contra Costa County near ... more

Photo: Jane Tyska, Associated Press

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Santa Clara County firefighters Nick Nanez, left, and Mike Hughes help put out hot spots at the Morgan Fire along Morgan Territory Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Mount Diablo and Clayton, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. The fire began on Sunday, Sept. 8, and by Tuesday, more than 3,200 acres had burned and containment was at 45 percent. (AP Photo/The Contra Costa Times, Jane Tyska) less

Santa Clara County firefighters Nick Nanez, left, and Mike Hughes help put out hot spots at the Morgan Fire along Morgan Territory Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Mount Diablo and Clayton, ... more

Photo: Jane Tyska, Associated Press

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Diablo Bowman Archery Club member Cleon Winter, of Antioch, surveys damage to one of the club's storage trailers along a fire road near the north peak of Mount Diablo in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Clayton, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire began on Sunday, Sept. 8, and by Tuesday, more than 3,200 acres had burned and containment was at 45 percent. (AP Photo/The Contra Costa Times, Jane Tyska) less

Diablo Bowman Archery Club member Cleon Winter, of Antioch, surveys damage to one of the club's storage trailers along a fire road near the north peak of Mount Diablo in unincorporated Contra Costa County near ... more

Photo: Jane Tyska, Associated Press

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Delta Camp firefighter Ken Pridmore scans for smoke and hot spots on the north peak of Mount Diablo in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Clayton, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire began on Sept. 8, and by Tuesday more than 3,200 acres had burned and containment was at 45 percent. (AP Photo/The Contra Costa Times, Jane Tyska) less

Delta Camp firefighter Ken Pridmore scans for smoke and hot spots on the north peak of Mount Diablo in unincorporated Contra Costa County near Clayton, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire began ... more

Photo: Jane Tyska, Associated Press

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The Intermountain Fire Crew, an inmate team from Lassen and Modoc County, patrol for hot spots in Mt. Diablo State Park, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, near Clayton, Calif., as firefighters near full containment of the Morgan Fire burning on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo State Park. less

The Intermountain Fire Crew, an inmate team from Lassen and Modoc County, patrol for hot spots in Mt. Diablo State Park, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, near Clayton, Calif., as firefighters near full containment of ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A Cal Fire hand crew marches towards the summit to search for hot spots on Mt. Diablo State Park near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the east slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the fire as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

A Cal Fire hand crew marches towards the summit to search for hot spots on Mt. Diablo State Park near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the east slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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The Intermountain Fire Crew, an inmate team from Lassen and Modoc County, takes a break in Mt. Diablo State Park, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, near Clayton, Calif., as firefighters near full containment of the Morgan Fire burning on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo State Park. less

The Intermountain Fire Crew, an inmate team from Lassen and Modoc County, takes a break in Mt. Diablo State Park, on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, near Clayton, Calif., as firefighters near full containment of the ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A helicopter makes a water drop near the summit of Mt. Diablo State Park, near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the blaze as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

A helicopter makes a water drop near the summit of Mt. Diablo State Park, near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Cal Fire crews gathers near the summit of Mt. Diablo State Park near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the blaze as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

Cal Fire crews gathers near the summit of Mt. Diablo State Park near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Diablo Bowman members, Kent Swindell, (left) and Cleon Winter, near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, look over the storage trailer that was burned up in the Morgan Fire destroying $35,000 worth of archery equipment. The archery club was founded in 1964. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the blaze as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

Diablo Bowman members, Kent Swindell, (left) and Cleon Winter, near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013, look over the storage trailer that was burned up in the Morgan Fire destroying $35,000 worth of ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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A Department of Corrections inmate crew takes a beak from fighting the Mt. Diablo State Park fire near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning to come under control as firefighters have contained forty five percent of the blaze as of 7 a.m. this morning. less

A Department of Corrections inmate crew takes a beak from fighting the Mt. Diablo State Park fire near Clayton, Calif. on Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013. The Morgan Fire on the eastern slopes of Mt. Diablo is beginning ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Firefighters are approaching the Mount Diablo fire by air as the flame approach the rim on the mountain, Monday September 9, 2013, in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Firefighters are approaching the Mount Diablo fire by air as the flame approach the rim on the mountain, Monday September 9, 2013, in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

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Mt. Diablo fire contained by weekend, officials say

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As state fire officials lifted evacuation orders and reopened all roads near the Mount Diablo wildfire Tuesday, saying it would be fully contained by the weekend, residents who live in rural homes on the scorched mountain got a first look at their altered paradise.

"It's completely different now," said Mark Morruci as he peered out his ranch home south of the peak near Clayton, where he's lived for 24 years. "It looks like a moonscape up here."

The view from Morruci's home on Morgan Territory Road once featured ridges of golden grass specked with buckeyes and oaks. Now it's charcoal black.

The home is one of dozens that have been saved since the Morgan Fire broke out Sunday. By Tuesday, 3,243 acres had burned - a lower estimate than officials gave a day earlier, before conducting aerial mapping. Containment was at 60 percent and rising.

Blaze is isolated

A confluence of cooler temperatures, humidity and gentle winds allowed crews to isolate the blaze in canyons near the mountain's 3,848-foot summit, authorities said.

"When Mother Nature cooperates," said Capt. Robert Marshall of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, "we can get the upper hand."

Just one outbuilding was destroyed in the fire, and no homes burned.

While the cause of the blaze remained under investigation, a separate probe was opened as fire officials revealed that the conflagration had served as an opportunity for thieves.

They said someone broke into a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District station in Walnut Creek late Sunday after crews left for the fire lines.

The suspects rifled through firefighters' personal belongings and made off with iPads, cash, watches and two wedding rings, said Steve Aubert, a department spokesman.

The same night, a burglar attempted to break in through the window of a second Walnut Creek firehouse, Aubert said. But a lone firefighter who stayed behind at the station managed to scare off the intruder, who ran away.

Firefight going well

It was a dose of bad news in a firefight that has gone well. Using bulldozers, helicopters and airplanes - including a DC-10 jet to drop fire retardant - crews managed to save Mount Diablo's historic visitor center and lookout as well as numerous homes and ranches.

More than 700 firefighters were working Tuesday to keep the blaze within Mount Diablo State Park, with their effort focused on ravines near the summit.

Crews were also trying to prevent the blaze from reaching Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power lines and communications infrastructure on the mountain.

Horses and other livestock have been evacuated from the area.

The progress on the Morgan Fire has allowed fire officials to divert resources 200 miles north to a more devastating wildfire in Shasta County.

A bigger fire up north

There, more than 1,100 firefighters were working Tuesday to stop the spread of the Clover Fire, which had destroyed 30 homes, damaged 30 more and ruined a number of cars and trucks.

That fire broke out about 12:30 p.m. Monday in the rural community of Happy Valley, about 12 miles southwest of Redding. The cause of the blaze - which also leveled 50 outbuildings including sheds, barns and pump houses - is not yet known.

By Tuesday, the fire was considered to be 40 percent contained. It had burned 7,400 acres, but crews had bulldozed containment lines around the entire perimeter and hoped to hold those lines despite hot and dry weather, said Mike Witesman, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

He said about 600 residents had evacuated from areas where 300 structures remained threatened. The fire forced the closure of several roads, put power lines at risk and damaged a pump station operated by the Clear Creek Water District.